making the grade - young pianist - grade 1

POPULAR PIECES FOR YOUNG PIANISTS. COMPLETE BEGINNERS PROGRAMME

INTRODUCTION

This collection of 60 popular tunes has been carefully arranged and graded to provide attractive teaching repertoire for

young pianists. New concepts and techniques are introduced progressively, and rhe familiariry ofrhe marerial will stimulate

Pupils' enthusiasm and encourate their pEctice.The standard ofthe pieces progresses from beginner toAssociated Board

Grade 2.

CON.TENTS

PREPARATORY GRADE

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GRADE I

37

38

39

40

42

44

46

4A

49

50

GRADE 2

68

70

72

74

76

78

80

HOVYARDS'}VAYby Leslie Osborne &Simon Moy

This is the theme tune from the popular television series about yachts and sailing.

Let the music flow freely. Notice the stretch between the right hand thumb

and first finger in bars one and three.

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PEGGY SUEby Jerry Allison, Normon Petty & Buddy Holly

This pop song was a big hit for Buddy Holly. You will need to count carefully

in bars five and seven to get the rhythm right in the left hand. ln fact it would be

a good idea to practise clapping the left hand part in bar five.

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ALL CRIED OUTby Tony Swain, Steve Jolley & Alison Moyet

Try to make the phrases answer each other.

Make sure there is plenty of difference between the first phrase (loud)

and the second, which is played quite softly (^p).ModeroteV J :.l00

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IMAGINEby John Lennon

ln this song John Lennon tried to imagine a world without war

Take care to observe the rests in the right hand'

and plaY as smoothly as You can'

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ANNIE'S SONGby John Denver

Make the right hand tune really sing out above the left hand.

This style of playing is called 'cantabile', which is an ltalian word meaning

'in a singing style'. Your playing should be very smooth.

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MORNING HAS BROKENTroditionol

This old hymn tune is still very popular today.

Be carefulto let the music'breathe'between phrases.

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SCARBOROUGH FAIRTroditionol

The main tune of this well-known folk song is in the right hand,

but in bars 9- l2 and 2l -24 notice how the left hand imitates (copies) the right hand.

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SOMETHING'S GOTTEN HOLD OF MY HEARTby Roger Cook& Roger GreenowoY

Try to make the left hand as legato (smooth) as possible.

Practise it separately, making sure that both notes

in the chords sound exactly together.

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THE FIFTY.NINTH STREET BRIDGEby PoulSimon

Look at the left hand part carefully. Notice how

the first two bars keep repeating all the way through the song.

Practise until you can play them perfectly.

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/ EASTENDERSby leslie Osborne &Simon MoY

This is the theme from the popular television series. Play it at a steady pace,

being careful not to rush the quavers. ln bar four alternative fingerings

are given in brackets. Which do you prefer?

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CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'by John Phillips

Watch out for the first time bars. There are three of them.

Remember to miss them out and go on to the second time bar

when you play the repeat.

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/ EL CONDOR PASAby J. Milchberg & D. Robles

This old South American tune was made popular by Simon and Garfunkel. Try to make a reat contrast in the dynamics, which

Flowing J :88go all the way from f (loud) down to PP (very soft).

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DO.RE.MIby Richord Rodgers

This song appears in the musical 'The Sound Of Music'.

It was used to teach the children how to sing together. Notice how the

right hand in bars 5-8 is the same zrs bars l-4, but a third (three notes) higher.

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ONE MORE NIGHTby Phil Collins

The first four bars of this piece are an introduction.

The tune does not begin until bar five, after the double bar-line.

Make sure you count carefully right through.

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/ LAST OF THE SUMMER }VINEby Ronnie Hozlehurst

This is the theme from the very popular BBC television series.

Notice that the second half of the piece is almost exactly the same as the first,

but it should be played more quietly.

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}YE }VISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMASTroditionol

The left hand has a very interesting part to play in this christmas carol.It is a good idea to practise hands separately before you try to play hands together.

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SAILINGby Govin Sutherlond

Both hands play the tune in octaves in the first four bars-

From bar nine the left hand is busy playing quavers. Be sure to keep them

quiet and even, so that the tune in the right hand is clearly heard.

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GREENSLEEVESTroditionol

This is a very famous old English tune. lt would probably have been sung

by a minstrel, accompanying himself on a lute (a sort of guitar).

Notice that Middle C is sometimes sharp and sometimes natural.

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THE SOUND OF SILENCEby PoulSimon

ln spite of the title, don't play this piece too quietly!

Make sure the quavers in the right hand are really even.

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